C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the important risk factors for
atherosclerosis, and its serum level is lowered by popular
cholesterol-lowering drugs,
statins. This study was undertaken to examine the changes of CRP levels during
dextran-sulfate (DS)
low-density lipoprotein (
LDL)
apheresis. In 15
apheresis sessions in seven patients with severe
hypercholesterolemia (four men and three women, aged between 36 and 70 years), changes in CRP levels were examined. The efficiency in adsorption of CRP with DS column was evaluated by measuring CRP levels in both pre- and post-column plasma. In one patient, the effect of repeated
apheresis sessions on CRP preapheresis levels was examined. The changes in
interleukin (IL)-6 plasma levels were also examined in six sessions. Although
IL-6 levels after 3,000 mL-plasma treatment rose to 170% of preapheresis levels, CRP levels decreased significantly (from 1.91 +/- 0.49 mg/L to 0.89 +/- 0.24, P < 0.01).
C-reactive protein was almost completely adsorbed by the DS column and CRP preapheresis levels were decreased gradually by repetition of
apheresis. CRP, a novel risk factor of
atherosclerosis, was effectively removed by DS-
LDL apheresis. The decrease in CRP plasma levels may be involved in prevention of atherosclerotic
vascular diseases due to DS-
LDL apheresis.